Aussie female Marathon selection fiasco

I think it was a bit more clear cut in the UK (though often the selectors make daft decisions).

Charlotte Purdue and Cali Thackeray had the fastest times in the period and Rose was about a minute behind at Chicago and then showed recent good form in Seville I think it was. The other qualifiers were a bit slower (around the 2.25) mark and I know Sam Harrison has been injured for a while and only just back running.

So it really was a case of choosing the 3 fastest.

They made some very dubious selections for Tokyo though. I’m glad it was more clear cut this year.

And Natasha Cockram has also been injured. So no drama with the UK selections.

When this story first broke, I couldn't comprehend that they rejected the recommendations of the NST for AA to appoint a new and independent selection committee to re-determine the matter and avoid the risk of a potential bias. From my understanding not 100% sure if I'm accurate but both Nic Bideu (Gen, Sinead) and Adam Didyk (Jess) both have paying roles within AA governing body. Furthermore, I believe one of the selectors is life member Marian O’Shaughnessy. I don't want to jump to conclusion but given Nic Bideu trains his group alongside Tim O'shaughnessy (Marian's husband). With a little digging I found Marian and Tim housed Gen Gregson in the 2016 track season In a response post Gen highlighted the fact that they had been doing it for 2.5 years prior.
Via Facebook
"FUN
FACT: You all know Athletics House as the corporate headquarters of
Athletics Australia, based at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne. However,
there is another athletics house in Melbourne that can proudly boast
seven of the Australian athletics team members in Rio as previous
residents.
At various times, the
O’Shaughnessy family has welcomed the following elite Aussie athletes
into their blended, extended athletics family - Brett Robinson, Patrick
Tiernan and Sam McEntee (5000m), Genevieve LaCaze (3000m steeplechase
and 5000m), Ryan Gregson (1500m), Zoe Buckman (1500m) and Alana Boyd
(pole vault).
Marian
O’Shaughnessy (nee Fisher) was a four-time national champion in the 400m
and 400m hurdles, and gold and dual bronze medallist from the Pacific
Conference Games. Tim O’Shaughnessy represented Australia at the world
cross country championships on two occasions, and also had success on
the track as a 1500m runner in Australia. The couple are popular
Athletics International members, and apart from opening their home to
our elite athletes, spend a lot of time guiding and mentoring young
athletes."

I can't post link because i'm a new user but available via Athletics Australia's Facebook August 17 2016 or Via Gen Gregson Facebook August 18th 2016.

Is it far fetched to get a statement from AA regarding the potential biases in the selection committee? This took me about 5 mins to find, with a little more time and effort you could uncover a lot more. I understand that the selection committee relies on athlete's "knowledge and experience" from their time as athletes but I'm sure complying with the recommendations of the NST would not be doing much harm.

If one of the ladies who is being considered for a spot in the marathon team is staying on the couch of a selector and AA refuses to respect the Biases in the selection committee it speaks volumes about the integrity of the organisation.

All I hope from this mess is that Lisa goes to Berlin/Valencia and runs a 2:20 to take the Aussie record, which I’m sure she can get. Bittersweet perhaps but a solid two fingers at the corrupt organisation that is AA.

AA up to their usual selection shenanigans...

en.wikipedia.org

1968 Olympics Black Power salute

During their medal ceremony in the Olympic Stadium in Mexico City on October 16, 1968, two African-American athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, each raised a black-gloved fist during the playing of the US national anthem,...

Link:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Bl...

I agree with this. The gut reaction is to say it's unfair because it's different than what we are used to. But the job of olympic selection committees is to get the greatest amount of medals for the country, not to give a vacation to the most deserving. In the same way ETH might choose Bekele over a consistent 2:05 marathoner. It's high risk high reward.

On the other hand there have been a ton of situations where sh*t happens and the best athlete bombs the trials. Imagine if Kipchoge or Jakob have a bad day at trials, you really going to leave them off the team? Emily Sisson got beat by people with PRs 5 mins slower than her in the 2020 Oly trials, do we really think those runners are more capable of getting a medal for the USA?

How are we all feeling re the podcast of 'the chosen three'?

Fine to get out there and defend the process?

I'm happy for them all to get on with it- go away and train hard and nail Paris....but scoffing and laughing at the drama feels in poor taste for me.

Is this FTK?

Yep

I don’t listen to any podcasts, but if i did I would definitely listen to any of the podcasts associated with the MTC, not because I like them but just for the lols.

I would agree that it is in Poor taste, especially that they are going to talk about the selection drama, should just focus on the training in the lead up to the Olympics.

Definitely in poor taste, especially when you are going to lie about the findings, but just confirms what I already thought about the three of them.

Pretty sure those three remained professional and tied to the confidentiality clause. Unlike Lisa who commenced letting us all know she was left off the team weeks before her Husband got petty…sly digs in bday posts, basicwhitegirlmemes…

Only reason they have to address it was because it turned nasty. There was always going to be a disappointed party.

Let's hope AA learned from this moving forward. 2028 Diver will be 51 and Lisa 49. Let's hope next generation is easier to select.

Professional? They talked about the hearing and lied about the findings (Sinead said they found no evidence of bias, which is not what the report says) on a podcast. Hardly professional.

The early leak was from a selector and their self important spouse.

Cough* Cre_ _hT_n Cough*

I get the impression AA enjoy being the all powerful, unquestionable overlords of the sport.
There’s no way they introduce a clear cut selection criteria/policy and diminish their own importance.